Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held four meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
The Faith and Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the BFC. All of the brethren returned their questionnaires except: Arthur H. Frable, and Harold D. Yarrington. The Committee is well satisfied with the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires. The Committee will continue to communicate with those who have not returned their Questionnaire.
The Committee conducted an Ordination Service on June 2, 2005 to recognize and approve brethren entering the ministry. This is an important occasion to show love and support of those called of God to minister alongside us as brothers. We are grateful for those who were present. However, we were disappointed in the many that were not there and we want to strongly encourage all our Credentialed men to make Ordination Services a priority. Please put these services on your calendars and affirm these brothers in the Lord’s call on their lives.
The following changes in status were approved:
Paul G. Zimmerman was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
James R. Batchler was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
Steven L. Trommler was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence.
Terris L. Byrd was changed from Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
Kenneth F. Barber was changed from Ordained Ministers in Retirement to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Mark L. Morrison was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Dennis W. Spinney was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Robert S. Commerford was changed from Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
John C. Vandegriff, Jr. was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Harold D. Yarrington’s credentials were removed due to no response from him regarding the Faith & Order Questionnaire and inability to contact him for several years.
The Committee met with three men for ordination examination. The Credentials Committee gives thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has given these gifted men for the ministry of the BFC.
1. Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended ordination for Gerald D. Clark and Donald E. Kuntzman, and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended prior ordination recognition for Robert K Fields, and
Whereas, these brethren have served acceptably as ministers of the Bible Fellowship Church for the required period of time or the equivalent thereof, and
Whereas, after examination, the Credentials Committee believes these men to be called of God to the gospel ministry and to be in accord with the Faith & Order of the Bible Fellowship Church, therefore be it
Resolved, that Gerald D. Clark and Donald E. Kuntzman be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved that the prior ordination of Robert K Fields to the gospel ministry be recognized by the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved, that the service of ordination be held Monday, May 22, 2006 at 7:30 PM at Cedar Crest Bible Fellowship Church.
The Credentials Committee has placed our Ordained Ministers in the following categories. (These men are eligible to serve a Bible Fellowship Church):
I. Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church
Allen, Daniel P.
Allen, David T.
Arnold, Jonathon W.
Baker, Delbert R. II.
Barber, Kenneth F.
Bennett, C. Larry
Bomgardner, Clyde D., Jr.
Boone, Clifford B.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Clapier, G. Wayne
*Clark, Gerald D.
Clineff, Kevin W.
Cole, Charles E.
Cooper, Brian H.
Cowen, Timothy S.
Crossgrove, Andrew T.
Curcio, Louis S.
Dommel, Albert J.
Dowling, Willis I.
Erb, Ronald C.
*Fields, Robert K.
Fischer, Carl J. Jr.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Johnson, Robert A.
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Kirkpatrick, Kevin W.
*Kuntzman, Donald E.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
Miller, Alan G.
Morrison, Mark L.
North, Eric R.
Paashaus, Richard T.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ramos, Elliot H.
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Ritter, Ralph E.
Schlonecker, William G.
Schoen, David N.
Shorb, Thomas P.
Simpson, Arthur J., Jr.
Sloan, Robert A. Jr.
Smith, Gene W.
Soper, Ralph M.
Spackman, Carl K.
Spinney, Dennis W.
Stortz, Dean A.
Susek, Jacob, J., Jr.
Tannous, Michael J.
Taylor, Richard E.
Thomann, David A.
Uhrich, Gregory A.
Vivona, Alan R.
Way, David R.
Weller, Dana E.
Wells, Howard N.
Wickstead, James A.
Widger, Byron
Yerrington, Philip E.
* Contingent upon approval of recommendation of their ordination in this report.
II. Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Aukamp, William A.
Denlinger, Ronald K.
Head, Jim D.
Johnston, Walter M.
Manney, David L.
Morrison, Philip E.
Moyer, Duane E.
Moyer, Jerry L.
Pollock, Thomas A.
Riddell, David W.
Studenroth, John C.
III. Ordained Minister Working in the Chaplaincy Under the Sponsorship of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Heineman, David, N. – Hospital
Hurst, Kenneth J. – Military
Jones, David H. – Military
Moyer, Richard A. – Prison Ministry
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Dunn, William J.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Lea, Herbert K.
Martin, Carl T.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
Bartron, William H.
Commerford, Robert S.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
McCreary, J. Mark
Reitz, Roger L.
Tait, Jonathan P.
Vandegriff, John C. Jr.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Ellwanger, Donald R.
Frable, Arthur H. Jr.
MacMillan, Thomas S.
Ruhl, Jeffrey L.
Trommler, Steven L.
VII. Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Batchler, James R. Jr.
Beil, James A.
Bigley, T. James Jr.
Brosius, Bert N.
Buck, Leonard E.
Byrd, Terris L.
Cassel, Alva C.
Cassel, Carl C.
Cassel, Willard E.
Coulbourn, Hugh C. Jr.
Dotts, Raymond R.
Draper, Robert L.
Dunn, John
Ellingson, Bruce A.
Frank, Walter H.
Fritz, Harvey J., Jr.
Gehman, Richard J.
Gordon, Robert N.
Harley, J. Barclay
Hartman, Jansen E.
Herb, Frank L. Jr.
Herb, George E.
Herb, John H.
Hertzog, Roy A.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
Kirkwood, Donald T.
Koch, James G.
Minsky, Barry J.
Moyer, Edward
Munyan, Edgar H.
Phillips, D. Thomas
Plows, Keith E.
Reichenbach, R. C.
Riggall, John H.
Seifert, A. L.
Shelly, Austin G.
Smock, Robert W.
Thomann, David E.
Watkins, David J.
Weaber, Harold C.
Ziegler, Daniel G.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
Credentials Committee makes the following additional recommendations:
2. Whereas, we believe attending Annual Conference is vital to helping maintain unity in the Bible Fellowship Church and that it is to be a high priority for all voting BFC pastors to be present, and
Whereas, we only meet once a year, excuses should be of an emergency nature such as sicknesses, deaths or funerals, therefore be it
Resolved, all excuses will be reviewed by the Credentials Committee as to their acceptance. Men with invalid excuses may be asked to meet with the Committee, and further
Resolved, all excuses are to be received no later than two weeks before Annual Conference and sent to the Secretary of the Credentials Committee as per the F&O §506-6 (2).
3. The Credentials Committee brings the following legislation to Annual Conference:
Resolved, that the following material be adopted as First Reading:
Whereas, the Committee on Credentials has been placing ministers in differing categories to determine their eligibility as voting members of Annual Conference, and
Whereas, one of the categories used does not appear in the F&O, and
Whereas, there has been confusion as to who is eligible to be a voting member of Annual Conference, and
Whereas, there have been men in certain Advisory member categories for an indefinite period of time, therefore be it
Resolved, that the following replace Article 512-11.3 in the F&O (changes in bold)
512-11.3 Categories of Ministry
All ordained men who hold Ordination Credentials with the BFC shall be members in good standing in a Particular BFC and shall subscribe annually to the F&O.
The categories of ministry are as follows:
(1) Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC
(2) Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the BFC
(3) Ordained Ministers Working in (omit: the Military) Chaplaincy Ministries Under the Sponsorship of the BFC. The BFC qualifies to have men with its ministerial credentials to serve under the U.S. Armed Forces Chaplains Board under the endorsement of the National Conference of Ministry to the Armed Forces; as well as other Chaplain ministries such as the prison and hospital. Applications for such ministries shall be made through the Credentials Committee.
(4) Ordained Ministers in Retirement. These are men who have retired under the provisions of Section 503. A minister must serve a minimum of five years (cumulative) as an ordained minister in the BFC and be under the care of the Credentials Committee at retirement to be a member of Annual Conference as a “Minister in Retirement.”
(5) Ordained Ministers Between Calls. When a minister leaves his church or ministry without a call to another Bible Fellowship Church, he may be placed in either the “Between Calls” or “Leave of Absence” category, as determined by the Credentials Committee. A Minister who is in the “Between Calls” category is one who is presently seeking a call from a Bible Fellowship Church. He may remain in this category for a maximum of two years. A written request for an extension will be reviewed and may be granted by the Credentials Committee.
(6) Ordained Minister on Leave of Absence. (Omit present statement and replace with): A minister who is in the “Leave of Absence” category is not currently open to receiving a call from a Bible Fellowship Church. He may remain in this category for a maximum of two years. A written request for an extension will be reviewed and may be granted by the Credentials Committee. The combination of “Leave of Absence” and “Between Calls” in any consecutive period shall not exceed five years total, except under unusual circumstances as determined by the Credentials Committee.
(7) Ordained Inactive Ministers. A minister who has exhausted his stay in the “Between Calls” and/or “Leave of Absence” categories will be placed in the “Ordained Inactive Ministers” category. He may remain in this category for a period not to exceed ten years of which time spent in the “Between Calls” and/or “Leave of Absence” categories is counted. At the end of ten years he loses his credentials with the Bible Fellowship Church. If he wishes to return to active ministry within the BFC, he must reapply to the Ministerial Candidate Committee.
NOTE: Present article 512-11.3 (5) – “Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries” is eliminated.
4. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Monday, May 21, 2007, at a place to be determined.
5. Resolved, that Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Church, Clinton Corners, NY, Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, Coopersburg, PA and Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem, PA, be encouraged to have a service in recognition of the ordination of Gerald D. Clark and Donald E. Kuntzman and prior ordination of Robert K. Fields respectively and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the service.
Committee on Credentials: Keith E. Plows, Chairman; David A. Thomann, Vice Chairman, Ralph M. Soper, Secretary; Dennis M. Cahill; LeRoy S. Heller.